Hyderabad police arrested a 22-year-old man from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh for his alleged links to Pakistan-based extremist groups and suspected involvement in online radicalization activities. Zayeed Khan, who had moved to the city in February this year in search of employment and was working at a local hotel, was taken into custody by Medchal police. Investigators revealed that his online activities had been under surveillance for several weeks following intelligence inputs. Khan reportedly came into contact through social media with Abid Jatt, an associate of Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti, who is wanted by Indian security agencies for extremist recruitment and propaganda operations.

According to police sources, Khan was allegedly being motivated to carry out low-level sabotage activities in India, including displaying provocative posters and spreading extremist messaging. During the operation, authorities seized a fake firearm along with his mobile phone containing crucial digital evidence. The accused was actively following radical social media accounts and had attempted to establish links with handlers connected to Pakistan’s ISI-backed groups. He was also exploring ways to procure weapons as part of the suspected network.

A case has been registered at the Medchal police station under Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to conspiracy against the state and criminal conspiracy. Khan was produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody. Investigators are now examining his Instagram activity, WhatsApp chats, voice recordings, screenshots, and other digital material to uncover the full extent of his alleged connections and network.

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Shahzad Bhatti, originally from Lahore, is suspected to operate parts of his network from Dubai while using social media platforms to target vulnerable Indian youth. His operations typically begin with casual social media engagement before shifting to encrypted platforms for further communication. Bhatti’s network has been linked to a recently surfaced outfit called Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan, which is accused of spreading extremist messaging through online propaganda, graffiti campaigns, and local operatives across India.

The Medchal arrest forms part of a wider nationwide crackdown on individuals suspected of having links to Pakistan-backed radicalization networks. Central agencies and state police forces have detained several such persons in recent months. Officials emphasized that continuous monitoring of online spaces remains critical in preventing youth from being drawn into anti-national activities through digital propaganda.

This incident highlights the growing concern over cross-border efforts to radicalize young Indians via social media platforms. Authorities in Telangana have appealed for public vigilance and cooperation in reporting suspicious activities. The case is being investigated further to trace any additional local or international links that could pose a threat to internal security.

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